Adjustable vamp shoe



Jan. 1, 1963 Filed April 2. 1962 F. T. LIPARE 3,070,908 ADJUSTABLE VAMP SHOE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. F RA N K Ll PAR E ATTORNEY Jan. 1, 1963 F. T. LIPARE ADJUSTABLE VAMP SHOE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2, 1962 ATTORNEY fifiiifififi Patented Jan. 1, 1963 3,970,908 ADJUSTABLE VAMP SHOE Frank T. Lipare, 112 W. 34th St., New York, N.Y. Filed Apr. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 184,422 1 Claim. c1. 36-115) This invention pertains to footwear, generally; and, in particular, to a ladys shoe including a tension-adjustable vamp, or upper portion, for retaining the shoe on the wearers foot.

One object of the invention is to provide a shoe which is easily adjusted for comfortably fitting the wearers foot.

Another object of the invention is to provide fashioncompatible means for retaining a shoe on the wearers foot, i.e., the retaining means is adaptable'for use with widely varying footwear fashions, including many mens footwear styles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoe which may, with relative ease, be put on the foot; as well as easily removed from the foot.

The objects hereinbefore set forth, as well as others hereinafter appearing, are achieved in accordance with the invention by providing a shoe comprising: a sole, a vamp attached to the sole, a tensionable strip supported by the vamp, and fastener means for maintaining tension in the strip whereby the shoe is held on the wearers foot.

Accordingly, a feature of the invention is the employment of a tensionable member, such as an elastic strip, and a fastener, such as a buckle; the tensionable member being supported by the shoes vamp and tensionably fastened by the fastener.

Another feature of the invention is the employment of a vamp which supports the tensionable member and is adaptable for substantially concealing, or revealing portions of, the tensionable member in accordance with the vogue.

Another feature of the invention is the employment of an apertured sole which is adapted for receiving end portions of the tensionable member so that the member can be tensionably fastened at the shank portion of the shoes undersole.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a shoe embodying one form of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the shoe illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the shoe illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the undersole portion thereof.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a shoe embodying a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a similar view of a shoe embodying a further modified form of the invention.

Although the invention is hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as being embodied in womens shoes, it is to be understood that the invention is also applicable to many styles of shoes for men.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, there is shown a ladys shoe. A leather sole, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, comprises an inner sole portion 11 and an outer sole portion 12. The outer sole portion 12 includes a high arched shank portion 13; a spike wooden heel 14 being afiixed to the sole it) near the shank portion 13, as shown most clearly in FIG. 1.

Two Vamps, 15 and 16, are fixedly connected to the sole 10. End portions of the two vamps may, for example, be tucked between the inner sole portion 11 and the outer sole portion 12 and stitched, or glued, to these sole portions so that the Vamps 15 and 16 are securely fixed to the sole 10. As is illustrated in FIG. 4, the vamp 16 is secured between the inner sole and outer sole. Similarly, in FIG. 5 the vamp 15 is illustrated as being secured between the inner sole and outer sole.

The construction of the Vamps 15 and 16 is best illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 4, respectively. In FIG. 4 there is illustrated a sectional view of the vamp 16. The vamp 16 is situated closer to the toes of the wearers foot than the vamp 15, the vamp 15 being located at the shank portion of the shoe. The vamp 16 comprises two layers 17 and 18 of a suitable material, such as leather or fabric, the layer 17 being the outer ply of the vamp 16, the layer 18 being the inner'ply of the vamp 16. The layer 18, or inner ply, is slit to form the loop portions 19, through which the elastic strip 23 is drawn. FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 show that the loop portions 19 may be formed by making two closely spaced, parallel slits in the inner ply layer 18.

Similarly, the vamp 15, illustrated in section in FIG. 5, comprises two layers 24} and 21 of a suitable vamp material, such as leather or fabric. The layer 20 is the outer ply of the vamp, the layer 21 being the inner ply. Loop portions 22 are formed by slitting the inner ply layer 21 in the same way as hereinbefore described with respect to forming the loop portions 19 in the inner ply layer 18. The elastic strip 24 is drawn through the loop portions 22.

Suitable fasteners, such as the buckles 25 and 26, are attached to the ends of the elastic strips 23 and 24, for tensionably and adjustably fastening the strips.

As is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, the elastic strip 24, associated with the vamp 15, is fastened by means of the buckle 26 on the outer sole portion 12 of the shoe, at the shank portion 13. As is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, two closely spaced slots 27 and 28 are provided in the inner sole and the outer sole, 11 and 12, respectively. Advantageously, the terminal ends of the elastic strip 24 are drawn through these slots 27 and 28 in order that the strip can be tensioned and fastened by the buckle 26, the buckle being situated on the outer sole 12 at the shank portion 13, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5.

As is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the elastic strip 23 associated with the vamp 16 is fastened by means of the buckle 25 on top of the vamp 16, two closely spaced slots 29 and 30 being provided in the outer ply layer 17 for passage of the terminal ends of the elastic strip 23. The elastic strip 23 is tensioned and fastened by the buckle 25, the buckle 25 being situated, when fastened, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, the loop portions 19 and 22, supporting the elastic strips 23 and 24, are, advantageously, wider than the width of the elastic strips. Similarly, the sole slots 27 and 28, and the vamp slots 29 and 30 are also wider than the elastic strips. One important benefit provided by the use of such wide loops and wide slots is that the elastic strips 23 and 24 can be slidably positioned along the direction of the foots length. For example, a person having a tender spot on her foots instep can slide the elastic strip 24 in front of, or in back of, the tender spot. Thus, the shoe will fit the foot more comfortably.

Furthermore, the shoe illustrated in FIG. 1 through FIG. 5 has the elastic strips 23 and 24 substantially concealed from view within the Vamps 15 and 16. Often, it will be fashionable to conceal the elastic strips.

Illustrated in FIG. 6 is a shoe embodying a modified orm of the invention. Similar reference numerals with l prime added are employed to designate similar parts iereinbefore described. Two vamps l and 16' coniected together by a connecting portion 34 are provided. A clasp 3i crirnps the connecting portion. The loop por- LlCIlS 22, formed in an inner ply layer (not shown), re- :eive a drawn-through elastic strip 24'. Again, the elastic strip is substantially concealed, and it can be fastened while tensioned in the shank portion 13 of the outer sole 12'.

Illustrated in FIG. 7 is still another shoe embodying a further modified form of the invention. Again, similar parts are designated by like reference numerals with a double prime added. An instep strap 15", not directly connected to the sole it)", is provided. As is illustrated, the instep strap 15" is suitably slitted so that the tensionable strip 24 can be received by the strap. In this embodiment the strip 24 is not concealed. Often it will be the fashion to reveal the strip. The strip 24 is passed over and under the strap 15 and through slots 27 to the underside of the sole 1E? where the ends are tied in a bow 32. Preferably, the strap 15 is made of an outer ply layer and an inner ply layer; the outer ply layer only being slitted. Advantageously, if a coarse surface tensionable strip 24 is used, it will not come into rubbing contact with a stocking on the wearers foot thereby tending to tear the stocking. Moreover, the wearers skin will not be irritated because a smooth surfaced inner ply layer may be used, said inner ply layer, only, being in contact with the stocking and foot.

Completing the shoe shown in FIG. 7, there are the vamp strap 16", the straps 33 and the connecting strap 34, which is between strap 15 and vamp strap 16".

Although the accompanying drawings and description hereinbefore set forth illustrate and describe the invention as embodied in ladies shoes, the invention can be embodied in mens shoes. For example, in a mans sandal, or slipper, a vamp carrying a tensioned strip may i be used. More specifically, since mens shoes do not have high arched shank portions 13, the tensionable vamp 16 of FIG. 1 can easily be adapted for male footwear fashion. Moreover, since most styles of mens shoes do have at least a low arched portion, the tensioned vamp 15 of FIG. 1 may be used.

Although buckles, such as 25 and 26, have been illustrated as the fasteners, other fasteners may be employed equally well; for example, in FIG. 7 the hand tied bow 32 is shown fastening the strip 24.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent A shoe comprising an outer sole including a shank portion having a pair of slots therethrough, a vamp attached to the outer sole at the arched shank portion thereof, a second vamp attached at the toe portion, the vamps including a plurality of spaced loop portions, elastic strips passing through the loop portions and one strip passing through the pair of slots in the outer sole arched shank portion, and means including a buckle on one end and holes in the other end for tensionably fastening the ends of the elastic strips, the fastening means for one strip being located at the arched shank portion below the outer sole of the shoe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

